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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 02/22/2016 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson (Chair), Ed Muehlberg (Vice Chair), Cindy Cofer Evert, Pamela Spera, Mark Freiberg, Tara Kalar, Paul Thorp STAFF: Robert Vogel, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Zeinab Hussen, Alexander Modeas, Natalie Higgins I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vogel, Muehlberg, and Cofer Evert were absent. Student Representative Modeas arrived late. Kalar expressed her disapproval of Muehlberg's attendance record. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Creamer added Item VIILA. to the agenda. MOTION: Kalar moved, seconded by Freiberg, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Thorp requested his comments about a retaining wall near the site of the proposed respite center at Glen Lake Children's Camp be further clarified. MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Spera, to approve the January 11, 2016 minutes as amended. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS OF STUDENTS Hussen reported the high school girls' hockey team won state. Higgins announced her plans to attend the University of Iowa next year. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2016 Page 2 V. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. PRESENTATION— TOWN OF HENNEPIN/MURPHY'S FERRY - Thorp Thorp shared the history of a 400-mile fur trading oxcart trail in use in the 1860s and before between Winnipeg and Fort Snelling following the Red and Minnesota Rivers. A segment of the trail, now known as the Minnesota Valley Trail,runs through park and open space in Eden Prairie. The trail has been disturbed by a sewer line where River Road splits off from the trail, but the section in the open space remains undisturbed and is worthy of preservation. The Town of Hennepin was surveyed in 1853. Three subdivision plats showed 1100 lots in a 600-acre area and recorded a warehouse adjacent to the river which supported the fur trading? trade. A nearby blacksmith shop also supported the oxcart trade? and there was a tavern and general store in the area. Very few houses were built, however, due to the recession of 1855. The government surveyed the township of Eden Prairie in 1854 in what was pre-county Minnesota Territory at the time. Thorp explained surveying processes and reviewed the survey notes which provide evidence of a large house. He then went over measurements and bearings and pointed out landmarks on the map as well as proof of the warehouse's existence. He noted changes in the river bed and an area which has been washed out. There is still a distinct path leading to the site where the Hennepin Ferry was once located. . Current park plans are to leave the area natural. Olson asked how to go about protecting this resource. Thorp explained experts need to look at the trail and provide confirmation which would likely involve taking cross sections and digging. Olson suggested asking the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office (MHPO) to look at and assess the area and recommended pursuing an archaeological grant to fund the research project. Thorp revealed the tavern is on private property. The foundation was there in the 1960s and he suspects the remains are still visible today. Creamer said it would be worth talking to MHPO for suggestions first. Olson volunteered to contact the appropriate person at the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office (MHPO). There may be burial sites in the areas which will need to be avoided. Thorp said there are also notes to access from an interview with the former owner of site one on the Heritage Preservation inventory, which falls within the Hennepin Town area. Modeas arrived at 7:50. Discussion followed about an HPC visit to the site this spring before the trees leaf out. Creamer suggested May. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2016 Page 3 B. OLD CITY STREET SIGN FUNDRAISER UPDATE —Kalar/Thorp/Creamer Kalar said she,Thorp and Creamer met with members of the street maintenance department and with the information gathered made a spreadsheet of the the signs they provided. There are currently 380 signs available and the spreadsheet lists the street names and the quantity of each street name ordered. Thorp explained replaced street signs were previously scrapped for metal. Creamer said maintenance generously constructed wooden storage boxes for the signs which can be moved to a location the HPC designates. Kalar presented rough drafts of promotional materials and an order form which can be posted on the City's website once finalized. She suggested either shipping signs or making them available for pick-up at events. A set shipping charge makes sense to avoid calculating postage on each one separately. Shipping is also preferable to staffing a pick-up location. Kalar volunteered to organize the process and ship the signs, but someone else will need to keep the inventory updated. Creamer said there are still logistics to be worked out such as obtaining shipping materials and determining shipping costs and payment routing. Olson asked about partnering with the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS). Kalar said she isn't sure how that would work as it doesn't make sense to move the signs,but she is amenable to sharing the profits with them if they help with events. Spera inquired about the condition of the signs. Olson said the main issue is they do not meet the current standard of reflectivity. Kalar stated they must be replaced every 10 years. They should be marked in some way to indicate they have been officially removed. Creamer offered to research shipping costs. If sales are tax deductible, they can go through the EPCF which can hold funds for the HPC until needed. If not, she will check to see if the Finance Department can set up an account to hold the funds. She will also work with Communications to get the information on the website, work on setting up an email account for requests. She can do weekly pick-ups of signs for shipment. Spera recommended adding the turnaround time from request to shipment to the order form. C. CAMP EDENWOOD—RESPITE CENTER—Creamer MHPO has provided comments on the most recent plans and Creamer will be meeting with a MHPO representative to receive feedback. Now that the Phase One Archaeological Study is complete, the plans will be scheduled to go before the Planning Commission for review hopefully in March. D. 2016 WORK PLAN APPROVED - Creamer The 2016 Work Plan has been approved by Council with no additions. The CRM Consultant is working on a plan for National Registration of the Smith Douglas More House. Creamer asked the Commissioners if there were other properties they would like to see prioritized. Olson said he wants to see how things play out with the Town of Hennepin/Murphy's Ferry. Creamer said The Consolidated HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2016 Page 4 School is a good candidate but it has not been locally designated at this point. Olson said it is not currently at risk. Creamer confirmed it is being well- maintained. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. BLUESTEM/COMMITTEE UPDATE ON INTERPRETIVE SIGN Spera reported the Lake Riley interpretive sign covered by an EPCF Grant is ready to go. The narratives went through a lot of drafts and Kathie Case from EPHS and Cofer Cofer Evert worked diligently to find additional pictures. Creamer said it is expected to go to production soon if it hasn't already. B. CITY CENTER PHOTO PROJECT UPDATE Creamer said Case was instrumental in helping choose historic photos for the display at City Center. They will be hung on a plain painted wall as the grass graphic originally intended as a backdrop detracts too much from the photos. Creamer showed Commissioners the proposed layout of the photos. Planning is in the final stages and installation is expected to begin in March. VII. NEW BUSINESS - Creamer A. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) RESEARCH AND WRITING Creamer sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) to three companies listed on MHPO's website for the additional eleven interpretive signs slated for Lake Riley. Commissioners will be asked to evaluate the proposals at the next Commission meeting. The grant awarded at this time is for research and writing only. Once this phase is completed a grant will be pursued for fabrication of the panels. B. HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD - 2016 Information and timelines for 2016 have been updated. Creamer will have it posted to the website by early March once information for the Human Rights Awards is removed. April 1 is the nomination deadline. The HPC will review applications and make a decision at its April meeting and the recipient(s) will be presented their award(s) at the May 24 City Council meeting. VIII. FYI ITEMS A. GRANT FOR CUMMINS GRILL HOUSE (CG) Creamer reported per Kathie Case, the upstairs of CG needs work. EPHS wants to update the area to make room for storage and archives. Case checked into applying for a grant and was told because it is on the National Register and the City owns the property, the City can pursue a state-in-aid grant. Thorp asked what work needs to be done. Freiberg explained EPHS wants to make the space HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 22, 2016 Page 5 accessible,restore one bedroom to its original state so it is stageable, and use another for storage. The condition of the plaster is poor. Creamer said electrical work is also needed. Creamer stated the work EPHS would like to accomplish upstairs is a separate project from the current interpretive plan. Olson said it makes sense to update the Best Management Practices plan (BMP) for consistency with the interpretive plan. It can be a second-tier item for the consultant to work on with staff direction. Creamer noted the interpretive plan is for the interior of the house while the management plan covers the entire property. EPHS wants to put interpretive panels inside the home to allow for self-guided tours. Olson requested assurances the document including the proposed work does no harm to the period of significance outlined in the BMP. IX. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS Creamer stated commissioner interviews will be held tomorrow evening. There are three applicants for the HPC. Freiberg announced his plans to apply to another commission. He intends to maintain his involvement with the EPHS, however, and suggested appointing an additional liaison from the HPC to serve on the CG Committee. The next HPC meeting will be Monday, March 21, 2016, 7 p.m. at City Center, Prairie Rooms A & B. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Spera, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Olson adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.